The Lightning playeth all the while — Benjamin Franklin

This poem describes Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) and his lightning experiment by flying a kite in a storm. It proves that thunder isn't God's voice as stated in Bible.

The Lightning playeth－all the while－
But when He singeth－then－
Ourselves are conscious He exist－
And we approach Him－stern－

With Insulators－and a Glove－⁵
Whose short－sepulchral Bass
Alarms us－tho' His Yellow feet
May pass－and counterpass－

Upon the Ropes－above our Head－⁹
Continual－with the News－
Nor We so much as check our speech－
Nor stop to cross Ourselves－

(F.595/J.630)

[1, 5, 9] Lightning, Insulators, Ropes:: hints for the lightning rod experiment.
[2] He:: God; thunder is the voice of God in Bible. "The LORD thundered from heaven, and the most High uttered his voice." _{(2 Samuel 22:14)}
[5] Insulators, Glove:: tools used.
[6] sepulchral Bass:: the thunder.
[7] feet:: branches of the lightning look like the thunder god's feet. Yellow feet:: a pun on cowardly verse, with feet as the combination of syllables.
[8] pass, counterpass:: the lightning will pass ropes but a glove may counterpass it.
[9] Ropes above, Head:: a hint on the kite used in the experiment; the doctrine, dogma.
[10] News:: what God tried to tell us.
[11] check our speech:: thunder isn't used to check our speech.
[12] cross:: to pass from one side to the other. Thunder (in Bible) is not God's voice to stop us from exceeding ourselves.